Written Answers Thursday 17 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10758 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 March 2008, from what date the proposal to dissolve the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in order for it to be amalgamated with the Public Transport Users’ Committee will take effect.

Stewart Stevenson: It is planned that the Mobility and Accessibility Committee for Scotland would be dissolved with effect from 30 June 2008 to allow for the amalgamation with the Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland to take place on 1 July 2008.

Access for Disabled People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how a disability equality impact assessment, as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, was applied in arriving at the decision to abolish the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The decision to amalgamate the Mobility Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) with the Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland (PTUC) came as a result of the Effective Government initiative which identified an overlap in the responsibilities of both bodies.

  An equality impact assessment is currently being undertaken.

  Once the new body has been established, it will consider how it can best organise its operational duties to meet the needs of disabled people. The Scottish Government will review the operation of the new body to evaluate and ensure the needs of disabled people are being met.

Access for Disabled People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposal to have only three disabled people on the Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland is in compliance with the Scottish Government’s disability equality duty.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Scottish Government is allowed to treat disabled people more favourably and can, therefore, stipulate that a number of members must be disabled. To ensure that disability issues are properly reflected within the enhanced Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland PTUC, we propose to increase the size of the PTUC board with three additional members who are disabled in terms of the 1995 act. There is no limit to the number of disabled members the PTUC Board may have.

Access for Disabled People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why there was no consultation on the proposal to abolish the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: A wide ranging consultation about incorporating the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) into the Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland (PTUC) was carried out during the passage of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 between December 2005 and March 2006. The majority of respondents were in favour of the previous administration’s preferred option of an integrated high-level committee.

  However, at that time, ministers decided to maintain MACS’ separate status for a limited period and revisit the situation with a view to full incorporation later on. Under the Effective Government initiative, the First Minister has announced that the Scottish Government believe that the amalgamation of the two bodies should now take place.

  We recently consulted MACS and over 70 other key stakeholders and organisations seeking their views on the practical implications of the amalgamation, specifically including whether the three additional members to be appointed to the PTUC should be disabled persons under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 or would be non-disabled persons with experience of mobility and access issues.

Agriculture

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation has been paid to hill farmers since May 2007.

Richard Lochhead: Since May 2007, £57.28 million has been paid under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme 2007.

Alcohol Misuse

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensees have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to intoxicated customers in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority and showing the fines issued in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. Of those persons proceeded against one person in Inverclyde fine was fined £500 in 2004-05 and one person in the City of Edinburgh was fined £400 in 2005-06.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Drunken Persons1 Under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Section 76, by Police Force and Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

Police force
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Lothian and Borders 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Strathclyde 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 6


 Total
 -
 -
 -
 1
 8


 Local authority area
 
 
 
 
 


 Edinburgh, City of 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Inverclyde 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 North Lanarkshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4


 South Ayrshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2


 Total
 -
 -
 -
 1
 8



  Notes:

  1. Where this is the main offence.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area.

Alcohol Misuse

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage customers in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority and showing the fines issued in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables. The data held centrally cannot be broken down between shop owners and licensed drinking establishments.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Underage Persons1, by Police force, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Central 
 2
 6
 6
 8
 7


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 2
 3
 6


 Fife 
 1
 -
 5
 1
 -


 Grampian 
 2
 6
 4
 -
 3


 Lothian and Borders 
 10
 11
 3
 9
 12


 Northern 
 3
 2
 3
 4
 2


 Strathclyde 
 27
 15
 20
 25
 39


 Tayside 
 2
 6
 5
 -
 1


 Scotland
 47
 46
 48
 50
 70



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(1).

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling to Underage Persons1, by Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2001-02 to 2005-06.

  

 Local Authority Area
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City 
 -
 4
 3
 -
 3


 Aberdeenshire 
 -
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Angus 
 1
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Argyll and Bute 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Clackmannanshire 
 -
 -
 -
 3
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 2
 3
 6


 Dundee City 
 1
 3
 5
 -
 -


 East Ayrshire 
 4
 2
 3
 5
 4


 East Dunbartonshire
 1
 -
 -
 2
 -


 East Lothian 
 2
 -
 -
 -
 2


 East Renfrewshire 
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Edinburgh, City of 
 2
 8
 3
 5
 5


 Eilean Siar
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Falkirk 
 2
 5
 4
 2
 4


 Fife 
 1
 -
 5
 1
 -


 Glasgow City 
 10
 2
 3
 7
 7


 Highland 
 2
 2
 -
 1
 2


 Inverclyde 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Midlothian 
 1
 -
 -
 2
 1


 Moray 
 2
 -
 1
 -
 -


 North Ayrshire 
 -
 2
 1
 -
 -


 North Lanarkshire 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Orkney Islands 
 -
 -
 3
 -
 -


 Perth and Kinross 
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1


 Renfrewshire 
 2
 -
 5
 3
 -


 Scottish Borders 
 5
 3
 -
 2
 4


 Shetland Islands 
 1
 -
 -
 3
 -


 South Ayrshire 
 5
 4
 4
 -
 9


 South Lanarkshire 
 4
 4
 1
 8
 17


 Stirling 
 -
 1
 2
 3
 2


 West Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 2
 -
 1


 West Lothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scotland
 47
 46
 48
 50
 70



  Notes:

  1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(1).

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Some local authority areas, including East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

  Persons Fined for Selling to Underage Persons1, by Fine Amount, 2001-02 – 2005-06

  

 Fine Amount (£)
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 30
 -
 -
 3
 1
 -


 40
 2
 -
 -
 -
 -


 50
 2
 3
 2
 3
 2


 55
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 70
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 75
 1
 2
 1
 1
 -


 80
 -
 2
 -
 -
 2


 100
 6
 6
 5
 1
 10


 120
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 130
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -


 150
 3
 1
 5
 5
 4


 200
 1
 3
 6
 1
 2


 225
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 250
 4
 3
 -
 4
 3


 300
 -
 1
 3
 1
 1


 350
 -
 -
 1
 1
 -


 400
 2
 2
 1
 -
 -


 450
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 500
 3
 3
 1
 2
 -


 600
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 750
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 800
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 1,000
 -
 1
 1
 1
 -


 1,500
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(1).

Alcohol Misuse

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 18 years of age have been cautioned for drinking alcohol in a public place in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: Local authorities have the power to make byelaws to prohibit drinking in designated public places under provisions contained in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, subject to confirmation by the Scottish ministers. To date, 31 local authorities across Scotland have byelaws in place, covering over 480 towns and villages, and the built up areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

  The recorded crime statistics record the number of times that these byelaws have been breached. The data is based on an aggregate return, and so details of individual crimes, such as the age of the perpetrator are not available.

  Detected Breaches of Byelaws which Prohibit Drinking in Designated Public Places, by Force Area from 1997-98 to 2006-07

  

 Police Force
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 Central
 93
 222
 293
 330
 544


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 7
 9


 Fife
 0
 161
 151
 253
 445


 Grampian
 0
 18
 16
 0
 0


 Lothian and Borders
 52
 80
 44
 80
 186


 Northern
 33
 96
 37
 31
 185


 Strathclyde
 9,665
 8,639
 7,804
 10,952
 13,227


 Tayside
 44
 28
 124
 124
 161


 All Scotland
 9,887
 9,244
 8,469
 11,777
 14,757



  

 Police Force
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central
 370
 309
 342
 477
 531


 Dumfries and Galloway
 15
 29
 56
 22
 113


 Fife
 385
 347
 810
 916
 701


 Grampian
 71
 141
 252
 304
 448


 Lothian and Borders
 95
 110
 195
 205
 216


 Northern
 239
 128
 208
 86
 210


 Strathclyde
 16,582
 19,967
 20,027
 22,780
 24,001


 Tayside
 162
 316
 347
 528
 618


 All Scotland
 17,919
 21,347
 22,237
 25,318
 26,838



  Please note, because the byelaws have been introduced in different areas at different times, year on year comparisons cannot be made.

Alzheimer's Disease

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided for research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the health care and academic community.

  The CSO has not funded any research specifically on Alzheimer’s disease in the last five years but has funded a number of research projects on dementia at a cost of £706,337. In order to encourage the research community to generate more clinical trials research proposals on dementias, the CSO is in the process of discussion with Scottish clinicians and academics with a view to funding a Scottish dementia research network. Research proposals into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias would then be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

  The Medical Research Council, one of the main agencies through which the UK Government supports medical and clinical research, spent £6 million in 2005-06 on research into dementia including funding for Alzheimer’s disease.

Ambulance Service

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the mileage rate for volunteer drivers was last increased by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Shona Robison: The mileage rate for volunteer drivers was last increased by the Scottish Ambulance Service on 1 January 2001. The ambulance service continues to review the rate regularly and should it determine that it is insufficient to cover costs then it will seek to increase the amount within Inland Revenue rules.

Animal Welfare

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1876 by Richard Lochhead on 18 July 2007, what its timetable is for the publication of its first tranche of secondary legislation dealing with pet dealers, animal sanctuaries, travelling circuses, electric shock collars, pet vending (including internet sales) and livery yards.

Richard Lochhead: The regulations to licence puppy and kitten dealers will be laid before the Parliament after the Easter recess.

  We expect to consult on draft legislation which will require animal sanctuaries to be licensed during 2009.

  The circus working group, which examined the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses, concluded that there was no evidence to show that their welfare needs were not being met. As there are no circuses with wild animals based in Scotland and there is no evidence to indicate that there is a problem, we have not set a timescale on whether to legislate in this area.

  We have issued a consultation paper seeking views on whether electric shock collars should be regulated and have received a substantial number of responses. These are being analysed and a decision on whether regulations are required and the need to issue a further consultation paper with specific proposals will be made later this year.

  The Pet Animals Act 1951 will be replaced by new regulations which will include internet sales of pet animals. We expect to issue a consultation paper later this year.

  A consultation on the licensing of livery yards will be issued during the first half 2009.

Asylum Seekers

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with further integrating refugees and asylum seekers into their local communities.

Stewart Maxwell: Since 2001 the Scottish Government has invested over £10 million to aid the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. A wide range of projects have provided opportunities such as volunteering, work shadowing, English language classes and cultural activities aimed at integrating refugees and asylum seekers into their local communities. In 2007-08, financial support totalling over £6 million has been made available including £5 million to support the English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) strategy.

  Earlier this year the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced further funding for ESOL of £3 million per annum for the period 2008-11. Funding of around £2 million per year will be made available through the race, religion and refugee integration funding stream covering the period 2008-11. This Scottish Government programme is designed to improve the lives of minority ethnic and faith communities in Scotland, including refugees and asylum seekers as well as migrant workers and gypsies/travellers.

Bees

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist beekeepers and bee farmers to increase the production of honey.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support and advisory services are available to beekeepers throughout Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) provides a diagnostic service to beekeepers who suspect that their hives may be infected by varroa or notifiable bee pests or diseases. This service is funded by the Scottish Government Rural Directorate at a cost of £17,500 per annum.

  A further £62,000 per annum is provided to the Scottish Agricultural College to fund a comprehensive advisory, training and education programme for beekeepers, the objective being to improve the knowledge of and standards in bee husbandry in Scotland. Ultimately, the benefit of this funding should lead to improved honey production.

Bees

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist beekeepers to treat bee colonies infested with the varroa mite.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Directorate provides funds to the Scottish Agricultural College to make available general advice and training courses on good husbandry and management practices to ensure the health of honey bees. This includes advice on how to manage varroa in their hives using approved methods and licensed treatments.

Bees

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to develop a bee health strategy in order to assist honey production.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is preparing a strategy for Scotland which will be issued in the near future to interested parties for comment and discussion.

Bees

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available for inspection, monitoring and advising beekeepers in Scotland in respect of EC Regulation 797/2004.

Richard Lochhead: In view of the spread of varroasis within the EU, and the problems that this causes for honey production, the Commission established its Apiculture Programme under EC Regulation 797/2004. The programme aims to improve the production and marketing of apiculture products by funding technical assistance and advice and training to beekeepers on the control of varroasis.

  In Scotland the aims of the programme are met by the provision of funds to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), currently £17,500, and to the Scottish Agricultural College, £62,000.

Building Standards

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will set for domestic energy efficiency improvements in (a) new and (b) existing buildings.

Jim Mather: A review of energy standards in Scottish building regulations commenced in February this year. The building standards advisory committee energy working party has been convened with the remit to consider the energy standards and guidance that should apply to new dwellings and when building owners elect to do work on dwellings they own (extensions, conversions and alterations).

Building Standards

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve energy efficiency standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock.

Jim Mather: A review of the energy standards in Scottish building regulations commenced in February this year. The building standards advisory committee energy working party has been convened with the remit to consider the energy standards and guidance that should apply when building owners elect to do work on the buildings they own.

  A consultation paper is currently being drafted on proposals for reducing the carbon emissions associated with existing buildings. Legislative changes will be dependant on the outcome of this consultation.

Children in Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether they will ban the use of bed and breakfast establishments and homeless hostels for young care leavers.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for local authorities to put in place after-care arrangements to ensure that young people leaving care have appropriate accommodation. It is not generally appropriate for local authorities to require care leavers to apply as homeless in order to obtain accommodation.

  Furthermore, the statutory code of guidance on homelessness states that the use of bed and breakfast should only be used as a last resort for all homeless people. Homeless hostels can be a useful form of short-term accommodation if they are reasonably small-scale and deliver support if required.

Children in Care

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children in care in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland achieved at least one qualification at or above SCQF Level 3 in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Maureen Watt: The available information, based on pupils in S4 in publicly funded secondary schools identified as being looked after in the pupil census, is given in the following table.

  Percentage of Looked-After Children with At Least One Qualification at SCQF Level 3 or Above by the End of S4

  

 Year
 Dundee
 Scotland


 2004-05
 51.0
 63.2


 2005-06
 55.3
 65.6


 2006-07
 50.0
 73.3



  Note: Data on looked-after children in education is known to be incomplete and the figures given here may not show a representative sample of looked-after children. For the 2006-07 school year, numbers of looked after children as identified by schools in September 2006 from Pupils in Scotland, 2006, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/0, were about 80% of those reported by social work services as being looked-after between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007 in Children Looked After Statistics, 2006-07, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/27100107. The data shown in this table should therefore be treated with caution.

Children in Care

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children in care in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland achieved qualifications at or above SCQF Level 3 in both English and mathematics in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Maureen Watt: The available information, based on pupils in S4 in publicly funded secondary schools identified as being looked after in the pupil census, is given in the following table.

  Percentage of Looked-After Children with Qualifications in both English and Mathematics at SCQF Level 3 or Above by the End of S4

  

 Year
 Dundee
 Scotland


 2004-05
 40.8
 47.2


 2005-06
 29.8
 51.8


 2006-07
 43.2
 54.3



  Note: Data on looked-after children in education is known to be incomplete and the figures given here may not show a representative sample of looked-after children. For the 2006-07 school year, numbers of looked after children as identified by schools in September 2006 from Pupils in Scotland, 2006, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/0, were about 80% of those reported by social work services as being looked after between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007 in Children Looked After Statistics, 2006-07, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/27100107. The data shown in this table should therefore be treated with caution.

Crofters Commission

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many project officers are employed in each SGRPID area office area as a result of the £300,000 funding it has provided to the Crofters Commission and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to employ project officers to work with applicants to the Rural Developments Contracts – Rural Priorities programme who are less able to access web services.

Richard Lochhead: None. The funding has been provided to enable the Crofters Commission (CC) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to provide support for crofting townships and rural community bodies rather than individual applicants for assistance under the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

  CC and SCVO project officers will be working independently of the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) to help community bodies work up proposals for investment in their communities. Such proposals may then be submitted to the relevant funding bodies – including Scottish Government and LEADER Local Action Groups - for support.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies, other than central and local government, have responsibility for implementing the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Stewart Maxwell: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which is reserved to Westminster, protects disabled people from discrimination in employment, access to goods, facilities and services, the buying, renting or selling of land or property, education and the exercise of public functions.

  All public bodies, with a small number of exceptions, have responsibility for implementing the act.

Employment

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it calculates to be the working population of Scotland, broken down by age and local authority area.

Fiona Hyslop: The official source of the number of people in employment by local authority is the Annual Population Survey (APS). Table 1 shows the number of people in employment by local authority and age band taken from the latest APS. The data relate to the period between October 2006 to September 2007.

  Please note employment includes employees, those who are self employed, unpaid family workers and those on government employment and training programmes.

  Table 1 Total Employment by Local Authority and Age Band

  

 
 16-19
 20-24
 25-34
 35-49
 50-Retirement Age
 Above Retirement Age
 All


 Aberdeen City
 7,100
 12,800
 16,700
 40,800
 23,800
 4,900
 106,100


 Aberdeenshire
 9,200
 8,700
 22,200
 42,400
 33,400
 5,500
 121,500


 Angus
 2,400
 4,700
 9,500
 18,600
 14,800
 1,800
 51,800


 Argyll and Bute
 2,800
 2,700
 6,600
 16,600
 11,800
 2,200
 42,800


 Clackmannanshire
 *
 1,200
 3,700
 6,800
 6,900
 *
 20,800


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,800
 5,500
 10,000
 25,300
 20,000
 3,200
 66,800


 Dundee City
 3,700
 7,800
 9,400
 24,400
 14,600
 2,500
 62,400


 East Ayrshire
 2,600
 4,900
 9,900
 21,500
 12,800
 1,500
 53,200


 East Dunbartonshire
 2,400
 4,200
 11,200
 21,000
 13,000
 2,800
 54,600


 East Lothian
 3,300
 3,100
 9,700
 18,100
 10,100
 2,000
 46,400


 East Renfrewshire
 2,400
 4,000
 8,600
 16,100
 13,100
 1,800
 46,000


 Edinburgh, City of
 *
 23,800
 56,300
 93,300
 46,100
 *
 232,300


 Eilean Siar 
 *
 *
 1,300
 4,000
 4,000
 *
 12,000


 Falkirk
 4,300
 6,400
 14,100
 29,300
 17,000
 2,400
 73,400


 Fife
 8,400
 15,900
 31,000
 70,200
 40,700
 6,700
 172,900


 Glasgow City
 12,200
 26,900
 63,800
 99,900
 44,000
 6,300
 253,200


 Highland
 5,900
 6,900
 16,300
 39,300
 30,900
 4,600
 103,900


 Inverclyde
 2,100
 2,600
 5,900
 15,200
 8,400
 1,700
 35,900


 Midlothian
 2,600
 3,700
 10,300
 16,000
 9,100
 1,300
 42,900


 Moray
 2,200
 4,200
 8,100
 14,400
 10,500
 1,800
 41,200


 North Ayrshire
 3,300
 5,900
 11,900
 23,000
 15,100
 1,900
 60,900


 North Lanarkshire
 *
 16,600
 30,800
 59,500
 31,800
 *
 150,000


 Orkney Islands
 *
 *
 1,200
 4,500
 2,600
 *
 10,000


 Perth and Kinross
 3,400
 4,900
 11,000
 25,100
 17,300
 3,200
 64,900


 Renfrewshire
 3,500
 7,800
 14,300
 33,000
 18,800
 2,700
 80,200


 Scottish Borders
 2,200
 4,500
 7,600
 21,400
 14,900
 2,600
 53,100


 Shetland Islands
 1,300
 *
 1,800
 5,100
 2,500
 *
 12,000


 South Ayrshire
 3,100
 5,000
 9,100
 19,300
 13,300
 2,000
 51,800


 South Lanarkshire
 8,200
 17,100
 31,000
 60,200
 32,400
 4,800
 153,700


 Stirling
 3,300
 4,200
 8,500
 16,200
 9,100
 2,100
 43,400


 West Dunbartonshire
 2,600
 4,400
 9,300
 15,800
 9,200
 1,300
 42,600


 West Lothian
 *
 8,600
 20,500
 33,400
 18,200
 *
 87,100


 Scotland
 131,300
 231,100
 481,500
 949,800
 570,100
 85,800
 2,449,500



  Source: Annual Population Survey, October 2006 to September 2007.

  Notes:

  *Data are suppressed due to reliability.

  1. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Employment

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people currently work for over 40 hours a week.

Jim Mather: The official source for information on hours worked is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

  Table 1 provides data on the number and proportion of employees working more than 40 hours per week in 2007 (latest data available). Data is provided for both basic hours and total hours (including overtime).

  Table 1: Employees Working More than 40 Hours Per Week, Scotland, 2007

  

 
 Level
 Proportion


 More than 40 Basic hours
 177,000
 8.3%


 More than 40 Total hours
 398,000
 18.7%



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  3. Total hours includes basic weekly hours plus average weekly overtime hours worked during the reference period.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ravenscraig partnership regarding the opportunity to include renewable energy, microgeneration and combined heat and power in the plans for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site.

Jim Mather: I understand that the Ravenscraig partnership is keen to advance renewable energy options at the site. I am due to meet with Ravenscraig Limited and North Lanarkshire Council next month, and this is amongst the issues we will be discussing.

Enterprise

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1293 by Jim Mather on 13 July 2007, whether a request to meet the Ravenscraig development partners has been received and, if so, when such a meeting will be held.

Jim Mather: The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism recently met with representatives from North Lanarkshire Council to discuss the Ravenscraig Project. At this meeting the minister agreed to host a mind-mapping session involving relevant stakeholders including the development partners, to discuss a range of issues relating to the project. This meeting is due to take place in May 2008.

Enterprise

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2261 by Jim Mather on 21 February 2008, when it expects to take a decision on the transfer of regeneration activities for the Ravenscraig site from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Jim Mather: Public sector support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig project has to date been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. I do not expect that situation to change.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9932 by Richard Lochhead on 4 March 2008, how much of the budget allocation to local authorities has been identified as being available for land remediation.

Richard Lochhead: There is no separately identified funding allocation to local authorities for land remediation in the budget. From 2008-09, the former ring fenced specific grant has been subsumed within the general local government settlement. It will be for each council to determine how much of there overall funding allocation to commit to land remediation.

External Relations

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with CBI Scotland, the Federation of Small Business (Scotland), Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Council for Development and Industry or the Institute of Directors (Scotland) to ask them to organise trade missions to accompany ministers overseas as part of Scotland Week 2008.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11087 on 16 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .’

Ferry Services

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the development of the port of Rosyth ferry services.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is in regular discussion with the ferry operator and the port authority regarding the development of the port’s ferry services.

Ferry Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in the last year CalMac ferries between Gourock and Dunoon were (a) cancelled but excluded from the route’s reliability figures, (b) cancelled and included in the route’s reliability figures, (c) delayed but excluded from the route’s punctuality figures and (d) delayed and included in the route’s reliability figures.

Stewart Stevenson: CalMac Ferries Ltd has provided the following figures relating to the year ending 29 February 2008:

  (a) Sailings cancelled but excluded from the route’s reliability figures – 99.

  (b) Sailings cancelled and included in the route’s reliability figures – 292.

  (c) Sailings delayed but excluded from the route’s punctuality figures – 85.

  (d) Sailings delayed and included in the route’s punctuality figures – 106.

  The sailings which are included in the reliability and punctuality figures are those sailings where the operator is entitled to "relief" for factors beyond its control, such as adverse weather.

Ferry Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in the last year CalMac ferries between Largs and Cumbrae were (a) cancelled but excluded from the route’s reliability figures, (b) cancelled and included in the route’s reliability figures, (c) delayed but excluded from the route’s punctuality figures and (d) delayed and included in the route’s reliability figures.

Stewart Stevenson: CalMac Ferries Ltd has provided the following figures relating to the year ending 29 February 2008:

  (a) Sailings cancelled but excluded from the route’s reliability figures – 82.

  (b) Sailings cancelled and included in the route’s reliability figures – 224.

  (c) Sailings delayed but excluded from the route’s punctuality figures – 123

  (d) Sailings delayed and included in the route’s punctuality figures – 1,205.

  The sailings which are included in the reliability and punctuality figures are those sailings where the operator is entitled to "relief" for factors beyond its control, such as adverse weather.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per mile is for (a) passengers, (b) average sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to (i) Arran and Cumbrae, (ii) Islay and Mull and (iii) the Western Isles.

Stewart Stevenson: The first phase of the report of the study into road equivalent tariff is currently being finalised. The report will include details of the cost per mile for (a) passengers, (b) average-sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to (i) Arran and Cumbrae, (ii) Islay and Mull and (iii) the Western Isles.

  As indicated in my answer to question S3W-10834 on 25 March 2008. I will ensure that you are sent a copy of the report. The report will be published shortly.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a 40% reduction in ferry fares for residents of Cumbrae, Arran, Mull and Islay would have on the economies of these islands.

Stewart Stevenson: The current study into Road Equivalent Study is considering the impact of a reduction in fares for all categories of passengers. The Scottish Government believes that is the way to stimulate economies in rural communities served by ferries. The suggestion to restrict the 40% to residents would have likely no, or little, impact on tourism.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies into road equivalent tariffs have been commissioned using public funds in the last five years, also showing which have been published.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a study into road equivalent tariff (RET). Details of that study will be published in due course. I understand that no such studies had been undertaken by the previous administration.

  We are not aware of any other such studies. However in January 2006 the Scottish Transport Studies Group published the findings of the research paper " Western Isles Fares Mechanism", a joint research project by Napier University’s Employment Research Institute and Transport Research Institute Maritime Research Group in partnership with Pederson Consulting for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The report considered the use of RET.

Flooding

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are in place to ensure that the roles and objectives are agreed of those in central government charged with the responsibility of recovery planning from flooding.

Kenny MacAskill: Recovery planning is primarily a matter for local responders, to whom the Scottish Government will provide appropriate support. Scottish Government guidance to responders on preparing for emergencies, " Preparing Scotland ", will be enhanced by a chapter on recovery from emergencies. It is anticipated that the guidance will be prepared this year. The guidance will cover management, roles and responsibilities for the complexity of co-ordinating long-term recovery from emergencies. It will examine personal and community recovery and its various aspects including community engagement, economic recovery, rebuilding social capital, personal support and welfare.

Flooding

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking in light of climate change and warnings of serious flood risk across Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The implications of climate change for Scotland are significant. Future climate scenarios produced by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (2002), available at www.ukcip.org.uk , suggest that during the 21st century Scotland’s climate will become wetter and stormier. The Scottish Government is acting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the development of the Scottish Climate Change Bill which will, among other things, give statutory force to our commitment to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. In addition to the bill, we are also addressing the unavoidable impacts of climate change Scotland is already experiencing and will continue to experience over coming decades due to historic emissions, through the development of Scotland’s first climate change adaptation strategy.

  The Scottish Government is currently funding the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to develop a national flood warning dissemination system for Scotland. The flood warning dissemination system is a means for SEPA to issue flood warning messages direct to the general public and businesses. At present SEPA issue warnings on a formal basis to police and local authorities depending on the local arrangements. SEPA publish these messages on the Floodline system which everyone can access. However, this is a passive system. The planned flood warning dissemination system will be a step forward to an active system and aims to transmit warnings via email, telephone, SMS, fax etc. The project started in April 2008.

Fuel Poverty

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of energy companies operating in Scotland to discuss fuel poverty and what outcomes were agreed.

Stewart Maxwell: I met with Scottish Power on 17 December 2007, Scottish and Southern Energy on 3 March 2008 and Scottish Gas on 4 March 2008. I also met with Ofgem on 17 December 2007 and the Energy Retail Association on 30 January. Subjects discussed included the impact of rising fuel prices on levels of fuel poverty in Scotland, measures being taken by companies to assist vulnerable customers, pre-payment meters, social tariffs and the carbon emissions reduction target. I made it clear at these meetings that I fully expect energy supply companies to do all that they can to protect people who are most vulnerable to high fuel prices and that I intend to continue this dialogue. I also plan to raise these issues with UK ministers when I attend Ofgem’s fuel poverty summit on 23 April 2008.

Health

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives and financial support it is considering to encourage people to train in rural medicine and commit to working in remote and rural areas.

Nicola Sturgeon: A range of incentives, including fellowships, supported training placements and rural track training programmes, are in place to encourage people to train in rural medicine and continue to work in remote and rural areas.

  In 2007, the Remote and Rural Steering group published a report which outlined a framework for sustainable remote and rural healthcare services. A key part of this is the establishment, by NHS Education for Scotland, of the Remote and Rural Healthcare Educational Alliance. This group considers what further provision might be needed for educational support and development for the remote and rural-based workforce.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should request home visits from health visitors.

Shona Robison: A health visitor, or public health nurse as they are now known, is a qualified and registered nurse or midwife who is specially trained to assess the health needs of individuals, families and the wider community. They aim to promote good health and prevent illness in the community by offering practical help and advice.

  The role of a public health nurse involves visiting people in their homes, in particular new parents and children under five, as well as working with other sections of the community. Members of the public can contact health visitors/public health nurses for advice on adopting healthy lifestyles such as smoking cessation. They also provide advice and support to carers and elderly people.

  Referral to the health visiting/public health nursing service can be made directly from those wishing to receive the service or by a range of other professionals or agencies such as GPs, social workers or education colleagues. A home visit can be arranged if necessary.

Higher Education

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are being put in place to ensure that university applicants from Scottish schools, who have been given unconditional offers, will not in any way be disadvantaged by new UCAS regulations, which take effect in academic session 2009-10, allowing pupils holding conditional offers the automatic right to upgrade to universities not listed on their UCAS application forms if their exam results exceed the conditions asked for.

Fiona Hyslop: No safeguards are required because applicants who hold an unconditional offer will not be affected by the proposed new arrangements. Anyone holding an unconditional offer will have that offer honoured by the higher education institution concerned.

Housing

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme.

Stewart Maxwell: In our discussion document Firm Foundations: The future of Housing in Scotland , the Scottish Government sets out our vision to reform the housing system in Scotland to deliver more housing at a better value for public money.

  This includes a commitment to promoting greater use of schemes which offer incentives to bring empty properties in disrepair back into use. This includes examining the effectiveness of the Rural Empty Properties Grant Scheme in helping meet wider housing need and whether there is scope to streamline grant appraisal procedures.

  Our aim is to set out the broad direction of our policies by the end of June, with a series of announcements on the detail of particular policies being made thereafter.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be invested in affordable housing for rent in Dundee in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11 and how many such homes will be made available in each year.

Stewart Maxwell: Over the period 2008-11 we will be providing investment of over £1.5 billion for affordable housing across Scotland and aim to deliver at least 21,500 new affordable homes nationally over this three year period.

  I will announce the allocation of affordable housing investment programme resources to each area for 2008-09 shortly.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in affordable housing for rent in Dundee in each year from 2004-05 to 2007-08 and how many such homes were made available in each year.

Stewart Maxwell: Funding for the provision of affordable housing for rent and the number of rented homes approved for development in the Dundee City Council area in each year since 2004-05 is detailed:

  

 Year
Total Amount (£ Million)
 Homes Approved for Rent


 2004-05
 9.837
 179


 2005-06
 10.343
 205


 2006-07
 11.470
 162


 2007-081
 14.699
 38


 Total
 46.349
 584



  Note: 1. Provisional outturn figures as final year end accounts are still to be completed.

Housing

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3869 by Stewart Maxwell on 12 September 2007, whether it still intends to carry out detailed surveys of both tenants and landlords to gather evidence about introducing a mandatory national tenant deposit scheme.

Stewart Maxwell: As part of the review of the private rented sector, which was announced in the recent housing discussion paper Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland , comprehensive surveys of both landlords and tenants are currently being carried out. Both surveys include questions to find out more information about current practice and the scale of problems with unfairly withheld tenancy deposits. The surveys should be completed this summer.

Housing

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what tenants and landlords organisations it intends to consult when gathering evidence about introducing a mandatory national tenant deposit scheme.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has established a working group of stakeholders representing the interests of private landlords and tenants to consider the need for a mandatory tenancy deposit scheme in Scotland. The following organisations are involved in that group:

  Shelter

  The National Union of Students Scotland

  Crisis

  Citizens Advice Scotland

  Scottish Consumer Council

  Scottish Council for Single Homeless

  The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  The Private Rented Housing Forum, including:

  The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland

  Scottish Association of Landlords

  Scottish Rural Property and Business Association

  The National Federation of Property Professionals (which now includes the Association of Residential Letting Agents and the National Association of Estate Agents)

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland.

  These organisations will be involved in developing any recommendations for Scottish Ministers on how deposit management in Scotland might be improved.

Housing

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need to introduce a mandatory tenant deposit scheme in Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10021 on 27 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Income

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average incomes are on (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay, (c) Mull and (d) the Western Isles.

Stewart Stevenson: We only hold figures at local authority level therefore I am unable to provide the average incomes for (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay or (c) Mull. The average weekly income in (d) the Western Isles in 2007 was £445.20. The source of this information is the 2007 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) by the Office of National Statistics(ONE).

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many underage drivers were prosecuted in each police force area in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The following table shows the number of charges of underage driving prosecuted in each police force area in each of the last five years. In addition, a total of 911 charges (or 35 per cent of those reported) were referred by Procurators Fiscal to the Children’s Reporter.

  Driving While Underage (Contrary to Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) Charges Prosecuted

  

 Police Force Area
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 Total


 Central Scotland
 33
 6
 6
 11
 0
 56


 Dumfries and Galloway
 34
 23
 11
 15
 4
 87


 Fife
 72
 59
 22
 9
 21
 183


 Grampian
 50
 28
 31
 35
 26
 170


 Lothian and Borders
 103
 46
 46
 39
 55
 289


 Northern
 7
 3
 14
 8
 13
 45


 Strathclyde
 110
 102
 89
 59
 56
 416


 Tayside
 49
 47
 28
 22
 9
 155


 Total 
 458
 314
 247
 198
 184
 1,401



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The table reflects the position at 25 March 2008.

Local Government Finance

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to each local authority for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 to promote safer routes to school and cycling, walking and safer streets (CWSS) projects.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table outlines how much funding local authorities have been allocated for cycling, walking and safer streets projects in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Although local authorities are able to spend their CWSS allocation on safer routes to schools, additional funding for tackling the school run projects is awarded to Sustrans who allocate to local authorities through a bidding process.

  

 
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11


£ Million


 Aberdeen City
 0.365
 0.365
 0.365


 Aberdeenshire
 0.412
 0.412
 0.412


 Angus
 0.191
 0.191
 0.191


 Argyll and Bute
 0.163
 0.163
 0.163


 Clackmannanshire
 0.086
 0.086
 0.086


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.262
 0.262
 0.262


 Dundee City
 0.249
 0.249
 0.249


 East Ayrshire
 0.212
 0.212
 0.212


 East Dunbartonshire
 0.191
 0.191
 0.191


 East Lothian
 0.170
 0.170
 0.170


 East Renfrewshire
 0.165
 0.165
 0.165


 Edinburgh, City of
 0.818
 0.818
 0.818


 Eilean Siar
 0.045
 0.045
 0.045


 Falkirk
 0.267
 0.267
 0.267


 Fife
 0.639
 0.639
 0.639


 Glasgow City
 1.021
 1.021
 1.021


 Highland
 0.374
 0.374
 0.374


 Inverclyde
 0.146
 0.146
 0.146


 Midlothian
 0.149
 0.149
 0.149


 Moray
 0.154
 0.154
 0.154


 North Ayrshire
 0.241
 0.241
 0.241


 North Lanarkshire
 0.579
 0.579
 0.579


 Orkney
 0.034
 0.034
 0.034


 Perth and Kinross
 0.247
 0.247
 0.247


 Renfrewshire
 0.304
 0.304
 0.304


 Scottish Borders
 0.196
 0.196
 0.196


 Shetland
 0.040
 0.040
 0.040


 South Ayrshire
 0.199
 0.199
 0.199


 South Lanarkshire
 0.544
 0.544
 0.544


 Stirling
 0.160
 0.160
 0.160


 West Dunbartonshire
 0.164
 0.164
 0.164


 West Lothian
 0.303
 0.303
 0.303


 Total
£9.09 million
£9.09 million
£9.09 million

Local Government Finance

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received the special islands needs allowance in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: The three Island authorities (Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland) have received special islands needs allowance (SINA) in each year since 1999. With effect from 2001-02 and following a review, a further three councils with island communities, Argyll and Bute, Highland and North Ayrshire have also benefited from SINA.

Marine Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recommendation by the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Studies in its report of March 2007, what progress has been made in drawing together a Scottish set of marine ecosystem objectives as was to have been completed during 2007.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government set up a key stakeholder group, the Sustainable Seas Task Force (SSTF), with a view to taking forward the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy and making recommendations for new, streamlined legislation to protect Scotland’s marine and coastal environment. The need for clear Marine Ecosystem Objectives (MEOs), within and beyond 12nm, has been highlighted by the SSTF. Proposals for MEOs will be developed as part of the Scottish Marine Bill.

Meat Industry

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to counteract problems facing the Scottish pig industry, following the rise in the cost of feedstock.

Richard Lochhead: We recognise that this is a serious issue. Together with the industry, we are setting up a short-life task force to recommend actions that will help the Scottish pig sector.

  We have also invited the British Retail Consortium to ask its members to consider the impact of current problems on the long-term sustainability of the sector. In addition (as part of our foot and mouth disease recovery package), we have given Quality Meat Scotland £30,000 for a strategic review of the industry and £300,000 to examine opportunities for adding value to the "fifth quarter" (offal products) in the red meat sector. We are also pressing the UK Government and the European Commission to take further action to help the pig industry.

Mental Health

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the cost to businesses of mental ill health at work, what support it is providing to cope with this and what plans it has made to develop this.

Shona Robison: Improving mental health and wellbeing in employment and working life is one of the six priority areas for action under the government’s National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing.

  This seeks to contribute – in a range of settings including the workplace - to the promotion of mental health literacy, to helping to prevent common mental health problems and to supporting those experiencing mental ill-health.

  The government funds the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to offer support and advice to employers free of charge on a wide range of occupational health and safety issues, including workplace mental wellbeing, through a network of workplace advisers, a website and a telephone advice line.

  The centre also offers training to employers in Mentally Healthy Workplaces, delivered in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. This was supported recently by a marketing campaign aimed at raising the awareness of employers to the cost to business of sickness absence due to poor mental health.

  The centre operates the Healthy Working Lives award scheme. The scheme embeds workplace mental health as a key criterion in achieving an award and also recognises exceptional effort in addressing workplace mental health and wellbeing through the Health Working Lives Mental Health Commendation award.

Multiple Sclerosis

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the development of a range of respite care opportunities appropriate for people with multiple sclerosis.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of respite for all groups of people with care needs and their carers, including those affected by multiple sclerosis.

  That is why our concordat with local government includes a commitment to make progress towards an additional 10,000 respite weeks per year. Progress against each of the commitments in the Concordat will be reported annually at the end of each financial year.

  We have also recently consulted on revised respite guidance. This guidance is intended to help service planners and providers to develop personalised, preventative respite services to meet the needs of carers and the service users.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning approvals will be necessary by 2010 to meet the criteria for consents for housing development set by it as one of the conditions of funding for the Waverley railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the number of planning approvals and housing developments required to meet the funding conditions set for the Waverley Railway project can be found in the development plans for both Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils.

  Finalised Midlothian local plan (2006):

  http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/images/cms/PDFs/local_plans/Finalised_MidlothianLP_06.pdf.

  Midlothian, Shawfair development:

  http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/images/localplan/Shawfair_localplandoc.pdf.

  Scottish Borders Council local plan (2005):

  http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/life/planningandbuilding/localplan/.

Police

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of carrying out a DNA test is to police forces.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is available to each police force to meet the costs of DNA testing.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that costs of DNA testing may act as a barrier in police investigations where testing may be appropriate.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the budgets of (a) police forces and (b) the Scottish Police Services Authority was spent on DNA testing in months (i) three, (ii) six and (iii) nine of 2007-08.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the cost of VAT is having on the Scottish Police Services Authority’s provision of DNA testing.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) provides forensic science services to Scottish police forces. The SPSA budget for forensic science services, which includes DNA testing, was £24.3 million in 2007-08. This was funded as part of SPSA’s overall Grant-In-Aid of £83.1 million which was paid by the Scottish Government and included provision for SPSA’s VAT liability. The relationship between the forensic services provided by SPSA and individual police forces is covered by detailed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and there is no direct cost to police forces for forensic science, provided it comes within the scope of a SLA. No additional charges were imposed on Scottish police forces by SPSA in respect of forensic services in 2007-08. Police investigations are operational matters for chief There has been no suggestion either from SPSA or police forces that the cost of DNA testing acts as a barrier to police investigations.

Prison Service

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of how and from which budget it will fund the building and running of Bishopbriggs prison.

John Swinney: The Scottish Prison Service budget for 2008-09 to 2010-11 includes capital provision for HM Prison Bishopbriggs. Running costs will not be incurred until the period covered by the next Spending Review.

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently in custody have five or more convictions.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners currently in custody have no previous convictions.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available centrally. The Scottish Prison Service holds information on the number of prisoners in custody and their custodial sentences, but does not hold information on all previous convictions as some of these would be non-custodial sentences.

Public Transport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the proposal to have closer working between the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and the Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland was not pursued.

Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and The Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland (PTUC) are being brought together as part of the Effective Government Initiative. The PTUC represents the interests of all transport users in Scotland. This move will remove duplication, simplify the structure and prevent activities that do not contribute to the government’s objectives.

  Further, it will reinforce positively the ability of disabled persons to bring accessibility and mobility issues directly to ministers’ attention.

Rail Network

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why it chose to extend the First ScotRail franchise three years before the end of the term.

Stewart Stevenson: This was the best time to extend the franchise, allowing government to secure maximum benefits to the public and rail passengers throughout Scotland.

Rail Network

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in grants to Network Rail by Transport Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland began making grant payments to Network Rail on 1 April 2006. Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2008 Transport Scotland has paid Network Rail £457,226,180.

Regeneration

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it intends to make available to urban regeneration companies in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has indicated the following support for urban regeneration companies over the period 2008-11:

  

 
2008-09
( £ million)
2009-10
(£ million)
2010-11
(£ million)


 Clyde Gateway
 14
 32
 11


 Riverside Inverclyde
 5
 7
 7


 Clydebank Rebuilt
 5
 
 


 Irvine Bay
 2
 
 



  Note: The profiling of these allocations across the three-year period is subject to change.

Regeneration

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive by what criteria it judges applications for funding from urban regeneration companies.

Stewart Maxwell: The funding allocated to the six pathfinder urban regeneration companies (URCs) by the Scottish Government was determined following a rigorous appraisal of the business plans and early action proposals submitted by the respective URCs.

Regeneration

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of public funding area are available to public/private partnerships involved in urban regeneration projects.

Stewart Maxwell: Support to public/private partnerships is generally provided by local authorities, the enterprise networks and other public bodies. This can take the form of direct funding or the transfer of land and property assets. The Scottish Government also provides direct funding support to pathfinder urban regeneration companies.

Respite Care

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what national advice and support is available to assist people to access respite care.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of clear, consistent advice to enable carers to access appropriate respite care. That is why we support a variety of national voluntary organisations which provide advice and information to unpaid carers.

  For example, we provide funding to Shared Care Scotland, a national charity which promotes and supports the development of short breaks (respite care). Part of this funding has supported the development of Shared Care’s Online Short Breaks Information Service. This service will enable carers, care recipients and health and social care staff to search for and arrange a suitable break according to location, age and care needs. We also provide funding to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland. The trust co-ordinates a network of carers centres throughout Scotland, providing carers with emotional and practical support, advice and local information.

  We are providing additional funding to NHS boards to support the implementation of their Carer Information Strategies, which include measures to help carers access information about support available to them and those they care for. We are urging boards to use some of this funding to deliver carer information through local carers centres, where they exist.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is planning to set up a central source of information about community care for older people. The service will consist of a website and helpline and will include information about the support available for carers, including respite care.

Respite Care

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to meet the respite care needs of younger disabled people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of respite for all groups of people with care needs and their carers, including younger disabled people.

  That is why our concordat with local government includes a commitment to make progress towards an additional 10,000 respite weeks per year. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually at the end of each financial year.

  We have recently consulted on revised respite guidance. This guidance is intended to help service planners and providers to develop personalised, preventative respite services to meet the needs of carers and the service users. The final guidance will issue in the summer.

Respite Care

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any guidance to NHS boards on the provision of financial support to voluntary sector respite care providers.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the important role voluntary sector providers play in the provision of respite services, helping to support carers in their caring role and to sustain the caring relationship.

  Existing respite guidance provides advice to local authorities and NHS boards on planning, commissioning and provision of respite, including the involvement of voluntary sector respite providers. The document, circular No. SWSG 10/96, is available online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/swsg/index-f/c161.htm.

  We are developing new respite guidance, which we recently consulted on. The revised guidance is intended to improve the planning and commissioning of personalised, preventative respite care across a range of service providers.

Respite Care

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a statutory right to respite care.

Shona Robison: Our manifesto includes a commitment that carers in greatest need will have a guaranteed annual entitlement to breaks from caring by 2011.

  We are considering the best way to achieve this and will be discussing the possibilities with relevant stakeholders, including COSLA, in line with the approach set out in our concordat.

Respite Care

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote a standardised approach to the funding of respite care places by local authorities.

Shona Robison: It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, and taking account of its statutory obligations. This includes funding for respite care.

  The Scottish Government recognises the importance of quality respite in supporting carers to continue in their caring role. That is why we have recently consulted on revised respite guidance. This guidance will support local authorities in the planning and commissioning of preventative, personalised respite which meets the needs of both the service user and the carer.

  The guidance is currently being revised in response to the consultation.

Road Accidents

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents involved police vehicles in each of the last five years and how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries resulted from such accidents.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government but is available from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Table 1 outlines these figures.

  Table 1: Road traffic accidents on Scottish public roads involving police vehicles, 2002-03 – 2006-07

  

 
 Pursuit/Emergency Response
 Operational Duties


 Accidents
 Fatalities
 Serious Injuries
 Accidents
 Fatalities
 Serious Injuries


 2002-03
 222
 1
 8
 1,056
 1
 5


 2003-04
 251
 0
 4
 715
 0
 5


 2004-05
 266
 1
 3
 986
 0
 3


 2005-06
 186
 1
 4
 811
 2
 8


 2006-07
 119
 2
 2
 819
 1
 13



  Source: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Road Accidents

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18096 by Tavish Scott on 10 August 2005, which roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide the statistics requested. Each sub-table lists only 20 roads, therefore, in some cases, other roads may have the same numbers of injury road accidents, or fatalities, as the last road shown in a particular sub-table. For example, the A719 was not the only road which had three fatalities in 2002.

  In the case of roads, such as the A1, which cross the border, the figures relate only to accidents which occurred in Scotland. As the roads listed vary in length, those roads with higher number of accidents may not necessarily reflect those with the highest intensity of accidents (number per mile).

  2002

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities


 A8
 341
 A82
 12


 A90
 242
 A77
 10


 M8
 223
 A90
 10


 A9
 219
 A9
 9


 A82
 209
 A75
 8


 A77
 177
 A1
 7


 A92
 149
 A8
 7


 A7
 140
 A74
 6


 A71
 131
 A96
 6


 A814
 128
 A947
 5


 A1
 112
 A977
 5


 A803
 105
 M74
 5


 A96
 104
 A814
 4


 A761
 100
 A823
 4


 A89
 98
 M90
 4


 A81
 93
 A719
 3


 A85
 92
 A72
 3


 A70
 87
 A832
 3


 A73
 87
 A91
 3


 A78
 86
 A93
 3



  2003

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities


 A8
 315
 A9
 21


 A90
 255
 A90
 14


 A82
 229
 A77
 12


 A9
 227
 A96
 11


 M8
 190
 A72
 7


 A77
 173
 A82
 7


 A92
 159
 A770
 5


 A71
 149
 A811
 5


 A7
 127
 A85
 5


 A1
 120
 A92
 5


 A89
 120
 B7078
 5


 A814
 109
 A71
 4


 A96
 101
 A713
 4


 A726
 99
 A8
 4


 A78
 91
 A84
 4


 A702
 90
 A93
 4


 A761
 89
 A701
 3


 A85
 88
 A726
 3


 A70
 83
 A74
 3


 A91
 83
 A75
 3



  2004

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities


 A8
 307
 A9
 17


 A90
 271
 A90
 13


 M8
 238
 A77
 12


 A82
 215
 A82
 7


 A9
 213
 A85
 7


 A71
 177
 A92
 7


 A77
 137
 A96
 7


 A7
 130
 A91
 5


 A92
 124
 A70
 4


 A96
 123
 A71
 4


 A85
 105
 M74
 4


 A814
 99
 A701
 3


 A89
 99
 A702
 3


 A726
 96
 A72
 3


 A78
 94
 A8
 3


 A702
 93
 A83
 3


 A1
 90
 A859
 3


 A761
 90
 A87
 3


 A70
 89
 A916
 3


 A803
 89
 A93
 3



  2005

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities


 A8
 270
 A82
 10


 A90
 235
 A90
 9


 M8
 220
 A85
 7


 A82
 212
 A92
 7


 A9
 192
 A947
 6


 A77
 153
 A1
 5


 A71
 143
 A75
 5


 A96
 139
 A9
 5


 A7
 125
 A923
 5


 A92
 120
 A7
 4


 A1
 110
 A70
 4


 A814
 105
 A76
 4


 A89
 94
 A96
 4


 A803
 90
 A701
 3


 A70
 87
 A71
 3


 A761
 84
 A713
 3


 A726
 76
 A74
 3


 A85
 73
 A77
 3


 A702
 72
 A811
 3


 A721
 72
 A814
 3



  2006

  

 Injury Road Accidents
 Fatalities


 Road
 Number of Injury Road Accidents
 Road
 Number of Road Accident Fatalities


 A8
 301
 A9
 17


 A90
 242
 A90
 17


 A9
 234
 A82
 10


 M8
 224
 A96
 9


 A82
 184
 A75
 8


 A7
 145
 A71
 5


 A71
 144
 A726
 5


 A77
 132
 A76
 5


 A814
 113
 A8
 5


 A92
 109
 A701
 4


 A96
 101
 A77
 4


 A89
 97
 A92
 4


 A726
 95
 A947
 4


 A1
 91
 A95
 4


 A85
 86
 A97
 4


 A761
 82
 M8
 4


 A73
 81
 A6105
 3


 A803
 79
 A72
 3


 A70
 78
 A84
 3


 A81
 78
 A91
 3



  Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 Returns.

Road Accidents

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving vehicles were reported on the A739 (a) southbound and (b) northbound at the Clyde Tunnel in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table gives the number of reported injury road accidents which were identified as occurring on the A739 in the vicinity of the Clyde tunnel between 1997 and 2006. Road accidents can involve more than one vehicle and they could each be travelling in different directions. However, all the vehicles involved in the accidents shown in the table were northbound.

  Reported injury road accidents on the A739 in the vicinity of the Clyde tunnel between 1997 and 2006

  

 Year
 January
 March
 October
 November


 1999
 1
 0
 0
 0


 2001
 0
 0
 1
 1


 2003
 0
 1
 0
 0



  Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 returns.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to address the deteriorating state of the A87 between Morriston Bridge and Kyle of Lochalsh.

Stewart Stevenson: The trunk roads maintenance budget is allocated on a prioritised needs-based approach which is informed by road condition surveys. This ensures that available maintenance funds are directed to where they provide best value for money.

  In addition, on the A87 between Morriston Bridge and Kyle of Lochalsh work is planned for April 2008 to reconstruct sections of the carriageway edges and roadside verges along the route. Larger scale patching works are also under consideration for this financial year.

  More generally, the A87 from Invergarry to Uig has attracted considerable investment in recent years. Total spend in 2006-07 and 2007-08 was in excess of £3 million. This is in addition to substantial sums spent on winter maintenance, grass cutting and other maintenance, which are not allocated to specific routes. Works in excess of £3.7 million are under consideration for financial year 2008-09, subject to the availability of funding.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the feasibility reports into the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Pitlochry to be (a) completed and (b) published.

Stewart Stevenson: An executive summary of the feasibility report into dualling of the A9 between Perth and Blair Atholl is available at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/publications-and-guidance/road/a9-perth-to-blair-atholl-route-improvement-strategy-study-executive-summary.

  More detailed work has now been commissioned to develop the design of the dualling between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam. That work is expected to be completed later this year.

School Meals

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted for the independent evaluation of the free school meals pilot for P1 to P3 pupils.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4073 on 19 September 2007, the original cost of the evaluation of the free school meals trial was approximately £60,000 (including VAT). The revised cost of the evaluation is approximately £76,200 (including VAT) reflecting extensions to the parents’ survey element including a boost to the sample.

Scottish Futures Trust

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the submissions received to its consultation on the proposed Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The responses to the consultation exercise, which closed on 14 March 2008, will be made available within 20 days as set out in the consultation paper. The responses are now being analysed and will be taken fully into account in decisions to be made by the Cabinet. A further announcement will be made in due course.

Scottish Water

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2566 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 March 2008, whether the period of keeping Scottish Water under review has now commenced and, if so, when it began, how many staff are involved, what procedures are being followed and when it expects to report on its conclusions.

Stewart Stevenson: Following the Parliamentary motion of 21 February 2008, we are keeping under review the structure and operations of Scottish Water as part of our regular work on the water industry in Scotland.

Security Industry

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Security Industry Authority investigators are employed in Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: The Security Industry Authority employs a Head of Investigation and four investigators in Scotland.

Security Industry

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many security operators in licensed premises have been charged with non-compliance with Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulations since licensing was introduced in Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: None.

  The SIA has a range of sanctions available other than criminal proceedings which can be used to help secure compliance. These include issuing written warnings and improvement notices for non-compliance.

Social Inclusion

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people from ethnic minorities are made aware of available health screening services.

Shona Robison: All patients registered with a GP will receive information about relevant screening services at the appropriate time. Information leaflets on the screening programmes are produced in a number of languages to encourage uptake.

  In addition, many health boards have local initiatives in place to encourage uptake amongst excluded groups including ethnic minorities.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have bid for a share of the £15 million matched funding to create sustainable travel demonstration communities.

Stewart Stevenson: Expressions of interest in the matched funding to create sustainable travel demonstration communities are being sought from local authorities by 30 April. I will write to you after these bids have been received giving details of the bids and place a copy of that letter in Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce matched funding for transport projects, in addition to the £15 million for sustainable travel demonstration communities.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no such plans.